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Site description (2007 baseline):

Aux Diablotins extends in a narrow band from Morne d'Enfer to Morne Kaderneau (down to 1,500 m north and 1,600 mete south), includes the Massif de la Selle escarpment and occupy approximately 1,500 ha of cliffs. It is bordered by the natural features of the escarpment. Altitude reaches 2282 at Morne Cabaio. Population around Aux Diablotins is made of the former workforce brought in La Scierie area when the pine forest was under national exploitation during the mid 1950's. However, on the north side in Belle-Fontaine, families had been established since colonial times

Aux Diablotins is one of the most important sites for nesting of Black-capped Petrels in Haiti. Other endangered include La Selle Trush and Hispaniolan Crossbill, the Vulnerable Hispaniolan Parakeet and Parrots (both not reported for La Visite area), Golden Swallow, Bicknell's Thrush and Western Chat-Tanager. In addition are found endemics such as the Narrow-billed Tody. Last inventory of January-February 2005, included misnetting, sight counting and banding from 5:00 am to 7pm in addition to Petrel surveys on La Visite - Cabaio. Inventory had not been done in the area of Morne d'Enfer and Kaderneau since the 1980s. Due to agriculture in the Grand-Fond and Belle-Fontaine regions and the perception that petrels are bad spirite, it would be wise to have implementation of this IBA as a priority.

Non-bird biodiversity: This area is habitat for Plagiodontia aedium. and endemic plants that are only locally found in specific spots such as Morne D'enfer, Morne La Visite, Morne Cabaio etc.

Vegetation of the escarpment is made of a moist hardwood forest with species limited to Morne d'Enfer, Morne Tete Opaque, Morne La Visite and Morne Kaderneau. Endemics include species discovered in 1984. The diversity in the hardwood is higher there than in the pine forest. It includes patches that have been cleared for vegetables and corn and that are invade by temperate zone weeds. The southern border of the IBA is made of pine forest.

Absence of conservation program Lack of political will Lack of financial and human resources Lack of technical resources Introduction of exotic species according to the moment benefactor Very high Habitat destruction Need for production area Economic growth Energy crisis Poverty Low soil fertility that requires more land to produce Absence of a holistic conservation program Lack of law enforcement Laissez-faire due to inaccessibility and austerity of the area Threats of lost of land plot Very high Introduced animals Cats, dogs, mongooses and rats behavior Grazing and soil compacting by cattle Very high Fuelwood extraction Energy needs Availability of trees Prohibitive price of other source of cooking energy Climate reaching temperature around 1 to 5°C Very high Endemic species extraction Existing market for ornementals particularly ferns and epiphytes. Very high Demography Demographic growth, family profile Isolation to comprehensive development programs Lack of education Pressure on land and forest resources Narrow horizons to young generation Ignorance of the carrying capacity value Very high Land tenure Absence of protected area delimitation Tragedy of commons Land owner (State) absenteeism Perception of ownership after 25 years on a piece of land Absence of zoning Very high Introduction of exotic species Reforestation programs introducing inadequate tree species Temperate zone vegetable cultivation Species escaped to domestication compete with endemics Very high Erosion Rain and flash flood Very High Conversion to agriculture Food security program National agricultural action plan Governmental priorities International community fund availability Conversion of cultivated plants into invasives Slash and burn Very High Lost of biodiversity Massive monocultural plantations of pine on area that should not be planted with pine Absence of knowledge in protected area management High Cooking during the planting season Camp fire that attract petrels in fire Accidental forest fires High

Darlington Wetmore and Swales James Bond David Wingate, January-February 1963 - Black-Capped Petrel Charles Woods et al 1975 to 1995. University of Vermont, University of Florida William Oliver - Jersey Wildlife Trust - Biological surveys and Black-Capped Petrel Walter Judd Jose Ottenwalder Bird and endemic mammals, protected areas, University of Florida Heather McPerson - Bird - University of Florida Katherine Graham - Eckerd University, University of Florida Florence Sergile - Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Haiti and University of Florida Louis Buteau - Ministry of Environment - director of Appui Technique à la Protection des Parks et Forets project Fabienne Taylor - 1996 - Woldbank Chris Rimmer et al. - 2005 - Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences Eladio Fernandez - Wintrop Attie - Fondation Seguin - 1985 to present Larry Harris - University of Florida. 1985 Leonce Bonnefil - University of Puerto-Rico Liliana Davalos et al. 2001?

Aux Diablotins is located at the northern border of Parc National La Visite. It had been identify in Woods and Harris (1985) as an important area to develop a core zone because of endemicity, scenic view, protection of endemics and water catchment capacity.

Florence Sergile, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aux Diablotins (Haiti). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aux-diablotins-iba-haiti on 22/11/2024.